Croatian Buyer Shocked by 50,000km Odometer Discrepancy; Online Community Offers Legal Advice

A car buyer in Croatia was shocked to discover the vehicle he purchased had approximately 50,000 kilometers more than advertised. The seller had also falsely claimed to be the first owner. The buyer shared his predicament on Reddit, where the online community offered a mix of support and practical advice.

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There is a happy ending, but it will cost you. It is the purchase of an item with a hidden defect, which is itself actionable, and in this case, it is also a criminal offense.

Many users urged the buyer to pursue legal action, describing the situation as a "purchase of an item with a hidden defect" and a criminal offense. Suggestions included reporting the fraud to the police and the State Attorney's Office, or filing a private lawsuit. Some shared personal stories of successful legal battles against sellers who had rolled back odometers by hundreds of thousands of kilometers, with one friend recovering around €3,000 after a two-year court case.

While some expressed skepticism about the efficiency of the Croatian justice system, the prevailing sentiment was that fraudsters should not be allowed to get away with their actions. "As soon as lawsuits start piling up, they'll have to do something. As long as everyone stays silent, nothing happens," one commenter stated. Others emphasized the importance of prevention, with one user noting their father learned to check mileage records at the technical inspection before buying a car.

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Once lawsuits start piling up, they'll have to do something. As long as everyone stays silent, nothing happens.

Rolling back odometers is a significant problem in Croatia, particularly with imported vehicles. This practice is considered fraud, punishable by six months to five years in prison. To combat such manipulations across Europe, new EU regulations are being introduced, modeled after Belgium's "Car-Pass" system, which records mileage at every service visit.

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Dad learned that from now on, before buying, he goes to the technical inspection and checks the mileage records.